Angela skated very well. The opening combo was awesome. Don't love how she frontloaded all the combos and in places the program seemed a bit rushed, but overall a very good skate and nice program. Her style and expression are lovely.

Actually enjoyed Kiri's new FS a lot. Not the most ambitious content, but the program itself was very enjoyable I thought, a big step up from the La Strada FS she had the past 2 seasons.

Miyahara is very impressive technically but she seems so focused on the jumps and ignores the music, or rather skates through it, a bit. Her expression is a bit introverted which I think contributes to that. But technically she was very strong, the jumps are tiny, but she's tiny so maybe they will get bigger as she grows. Big score so I guess the judges went with it.

thank you very much, Mao88 for compiling links to the skaters' videos. this is so helpful.

i am just so pleased for angela wang. not only landed jumps, but beautiful flow and expression. made my labor day weekend

looking at the protocols it seems angela gave away points on spins and non jump elements. now, i like the footwork sequence as is and wouldn't want it changed to net more points, but she can stand to work on her spins. the loss of centering on bielman variation is a recurring problem from last season. on the bright side her layback spin is one of the most beautiful among the current ladies--skaters don't get any extra credit for beautiful positions so i really appreciate hers.

Originally Posted by silverlake22

Angela skated very well. The opening combo was awesome. Don't love how she frontloaded all the combos and in places the program seemed a bit rushed, but overall a very good skate and nice program. Her style and expression are lovely.

i rather agree with you-- i don't like the 3z-3t-2t or the front-loading from an aesthetic POV. the program has been altered from its original senior level form in order to make a it a JGP program, and not all the changes are for the better. but hey, if this tweaking helped angela to skate with more confidence and consistency, then i'm all for it.

frivolous fashion comment--i prefer the LP dress angela wore for the summer competition season. kiri changed her dresses from summer season as well, but i like kiri's choices. not really fond of samson and delilah music and choreography in general, but kiri's skating is beautiful.

i like so youn park's short and was surprised her long didn't quite live up to the promise of the short. i am happy for miyahara because i love her skating, but i do wonder about the rotation on some of her jumps. not sure what to think of gerasimova, who looked so good in the short but not as good in the long. gerasimova has 1 more JGP, so she'll have another chance to impress.

hicks has nice spins and high jumps--i especially liked her straight-leg layback in the SP (i know this is the LP thead). i see improvements in her presentation but i am not yet a fan of her jump entrances, and i don't understand her receiving the highest PCS, especially SS, in the LP.

I really liked Angela Wang and Kiri Baga. Beautiful skating. Kiri looks much better than during her injury plagued seasons, good for her. Her programs this year suit her very well. And Angela rebounded great from the SP. I love how she smiled throughout her LP!

I was finally able to find time to watch this competition. I honestly think that So Youn Park is the next big star in figure skating. Despite the mistakes in the long program, she has everything it takes to be a champion. She has text book technique in her jumps: no underrotation and clear edge take-offs on the lutz and the flip. Her speed is much improved from last season. She also has lovely hands and skates to the music. She still only 14 and with more competitions she will develop the confidence to put 2 solid programs together. With raw talent like hers, I think a new coach, possibly abroad can take her to the next level.

Miyahara was good and deserved her first place. But we must remember that Junior is only step to Senior. And if she will not change her jump technics, we will not know Senior skater Satoko Miyahara.

Courtney Hicks is unfortunately not so good as before her injury. So let us wait, may be in future ...

Angela Wang. I congratulate at first USA fans, and also all of us - new star now shines. Very good presentation. Her jump content of FS was rather demonstration of level, than competition content to earn highest possible score. Ultra-difficult 3Lz+3T+2T coulb be changed to simpler combo without influencing to base value (3Lz+3T and 3F+2T+2T, for example, is less difficult with the same base value than her 3Lz+3T+2T and 3F+2T). Her final 3S could be changed to 3F or 3Lo with higher base value - but in this case she wouldn't show all 5 triples in FS.

Evgenia Gerasimova. Nothing new for russian fans who know her. No 3+3 at first competition of season is normal for her (so was at past season), at other competitions she performs 3+3. Score a bit higher than Titushkina - it was at past season. Place lower than Titushkina's in only because the "gift" from USA skaters was smaller (they made not so many mistakes as in Courchevel).

Kiri Baga - I don't know how she was before. So I can not tell, is this skating good or bad for her. In Russia we call this level "a bit lower than medium" (high is Radionova's, medium - Titushkina's).

So Youn Park - good girl, but she must work hard for better results, and results may be much better in future. Very nice skating, and she is young enough to have progress.